Running-shoe.



PATENTED JAN. 30, 1906.

B. F. RHODES. RUNNING SHOE.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 31, 1903.

Inventor By 'OJY/ Z slew 7277011 es Witnesses Attorney "NITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

BYRON FOSTER RHODES, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO BASCOM JOHNSON, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

RUNNING-SHOE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented J an. 30, 1906.

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, BYRON FosTER RHoDEs, a citizen of the United States, residing at Philadelphia, in the county of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Running-Shoes; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to improvements in running-shoes.

The object of the invention is to provide a shoe to be Worn by runners in foot-racing and which is so constructed that the same will not be cast or thrown from the foot and which will not bind on any part of the foot so as to injure the same.

A further object is to provide a shoe of this character which will be light, strong, and durable, the shape and formation of which conforms to the shape of the foot when in running position, thereby doing away with all surplus material.

With these and other objects in view the shoe consists in the novel features of construction, combination, and arrangement of parts, as will be more fully described, and particularly pointed out in the appended claim.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of a shoe constructed in accordance with the invention, and Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the same.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, 1 denotes the shoe, which is preferably of the low-quarter style and may be formed of any suitable material having sufficient flexibility to snugly conform to or lit the shape of the foot. The shoe is provided with the usual eyelets 2- to receive the lacingstrings- 3 denotes a sole which is attached to the forward end of the shoe and extending back to a point just beyond the ball of the foot, as shown, thus leaving the portion of the shoe under the hollow of the foot and the heel without a sole other than the material of which the shoe is formed. The sole 3, which is preferably formed of sole-leather, may be connected to the quarters by sewing or in any suitable manner, and to said sole are at tached short spikes or spurs 4, or, if desired, transversely-arranged cleats may be fixed on the sole to prevent slipping.

The shoe 1 is made after the shape of the foot. when in running position. This takes up all surplus leather that would be required should the shoe be made on astraightlast and gives to the shoe a fit like a glove or stocking. The construction of the shoe is also such that there will be no seams on the inside which will rub 0r chafe the foot.

In the ordinary construction of spiked running-shoes the stiff sole is extended back under the heel. This extra leather acts as a spring when the foot is lifted at the heel and the shoe either comes off or cuts into the Achilles tendon when laced tight enough to stay 011. These difliculties are obviated in a shoe constructed as herein shown and described, as the heel portion of the shoe is more in the nature of a sock and fits the foot so closely that the shoe will not be cast off even should the lacings be broken, which frequently occurs when running. A shoe constructed in this manner will also be much lighlter than shoes having a whole sole and hee The leather or other material used in the construction of the shoes as herein described is preferably put through a process by which all stretch is removed therefrom.

The shoes will be formed so that there will be no stitching on the inside next to the foot, all necessary sewing and seams being on the outside or between the soles of the shoe.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accomp anying drawings, the construction and operation of the invention will be readily understoodwithout requiring a more extended explanation.

Various changes in the form, proportion, and the minor details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the principle or sacrificing any of the advantages of this invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patcut, is

The herein-described runners shoe consisting of a flexible upper and sole made of a single piece, and shaped to the foot when in running position, with the heel portion raised above the vamp or ball portion, and a stiff tap-sole secured to the ball portion of the shoe, said tap-sole being leveled or skived 5 ofi at the front and rear, and provided with spikes or spurs, essentially as described.

In testimonywhereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two 'subsdribing Witnesses.

BYRON FOSTER RHODES.

WVitnesses:

SAMUEL J. RANDALL, J. H. WAGNER. 

